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Family R.E.A.D.

We just wrapped up another successful Family R.E.A.D. program! Family R.E.A.D. (Read Eat And Discover) is an intergenerational literacy program that aims to help families feel comfortable reading and discussing books together. This child-driven program made reading a daily habit, which in turn assisted children to read proficiently at their grade level. This curriculum served families with literacy concerns, many of whom are English language learners.

The entire family was invited to come to the Appleton Public Library for a free meal, followed by book discussion and interactive program. Every week families also received books to read together to get ready for the program, which they get to keep. Every child was also able to choose a new book to keep for their home library.

The meal is an integral part of the program. We were able to provide a nutritious meal through a generous donations and in turn the children and their parents are were no longer hungry and were able to focus on the tasks at hand. By removing the barrier, they were better prepared to participate in the play and discussion portions of the program. We would like to extend our gratitude to the following businesses who graciously provided the meals to the families every week: Noodles & Company - E. Calumet Street, Mai's Deli, Mi Casa Mexican Grill, Pizza Hut - S. Oneida Street, Subway - W. College Avenue, and Walmart Supercenter - E. Calumet Street.

Many thanks to BMO Harris and Friends of the Appleton Public Library for your generous financial support for this program. Also, Family R.E.A.D. would not be possible without the dedicated collaborative efforts of our partner with Family Literacy, Kris Clouthier who represents the Fox Valley Technical College and the Appleton Area School District. We'd also like to give a special thanks to all of our dedicated volunteers; Paul Kowald, Hayden Holz, Jackson Yang, Eliza Carmen, Danielle Zeamer, Tania Shook, Marisol Encarnacion, Molly Quigley, Marsha Dawson, Ashley Kain, Annie Geurts, Polina Konovalova, Yvonne Hutcheon, Catiel Galindo and Enedelia Martel.